Cover stop rod



n- 1, 1952 R. R. BORNGRAEBER 50 V COVER STOP ROD Filed Oct. :51, 1949 v INVENTOR. ROYCE R. BORNGRAEBER ORNEYS Patented Jan. 1, 1952 COVER STOP ROD Royce R. Borngraeber, Horicon, Wis., assignor to John Deere Van Brunt Company, Horicon, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application October 31, 1949, Serial No. 124,700

The present invention relates generally to agricultural implements and more particularly to the hopper constructions of such implements as fertilizer distributors, grain drills and the like.

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provision of a new and useful cover stop construction for the covers of the hoppers of such implements as fertilizer distributors, grain drills and the like. In such implements, the hopper covers have to be opened at relatively frequent intervals for the purpose of refilling the hoppers, and other purposes, and one of the prin cipal features of the present invention is the provision of means for holding the cover in its open position, preventing the same from opening too far and thereby making it difiicult for the opera tor to reach the cover for reclosing it, such meansbeing constructed and arranged, however, so that no part of the cover-control means drops down into contact or interference with the fertilizer or other material in the hopper when the cover is closed.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a cross section of the upper portion of a fertilizer distributor hopper, showing the cover in a closed position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the cover in an open position and the means embodying the principles of the present invention provided for holding the cover in its open position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the construction shown in Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference numeral I indicates the hopper of a fertilizer distributor having transversely disposed side walls 2 and 3 and a cover 4 hinged to the side wall 3. Secured to the side wall 2 is a bracket 5 which, as best shown in Figure 3, comprises a U-shaped member having a central attaching section 6 and apertured lug portions I and 8. A second bracket 5 of identical construction is fixed, as by bolts or rivets 9, to the cover 4. As best shown in Figure 2, rivets 9 also secure the bracket 5 to the hopper wall 2. The cover stop construction, with which the principles of the present invention are more particularly concerned, is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral I and includes a pair of identical rods II and I2, each having a laterally turned end portion I3 disposed in the Claims. (Cl. 217-60) apertures in the lugs I and 8 of the associated bracket 5. A cotter I4 serves to hold the outer end of each of the rods I I and I2 in assembled relation. with the associated bracket 5.

As best shown in Figure 2, the inner end portions of the rods I I and I2 are arranged in overlapping relation and the inner portions of the rods receive a U-shaped interconnecting member II, the leg portions I8 and I9 of which are apertured, as at 2I to receive the rods I I and I2. A central portion 22 of the member I! serves to maintain the sides or leg portions I8 and I9 in spaced-apart relation, and the apertures 2I are dimensioned so that the rods, while being snugly received therein, are slidable relative thereto. After the member ll has been assembled on the overlapping portions of the rods II and I2 the inner end of each of the rods is flattened, as at 24, to-form a stop section which, as best shown in Figure 1, is extended beyond the diameter of the rod, whereby the member I! is held in position. As best shown in Figure 2, the parts are so proportioned that the stop sections 24 come up against the side sections I8 and I9 of the interconnecting member I! so as to limit the extending movement of the rods I I and I2 and thus hold the cover 4 in its wide-open position.

The distance, longitudinally of the rods I I and I2, between the side sections I8 and I9 of the rodinterconnecting member I! is sufiicient to provide rigidity against downward deflection of the inner portions of the rods I I and I2, whereby the inner end of each rod is supported on the other, the rods being thereby self-supporting by virtue of the member II. In this way, the inner ends of the rods II and I2 are prevented from dropping downwardly into the material carried in the hopper I, both in the closed position as well as the open position of the cover 4. It is not necessary that the member I I be slidable along both of the rods since, for example, the member I! might be fixed to the end of one of the rods while the other rod is slidable relative thereto. In that case one of the flattened portions 24 may be omitted, if desired.

While I have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is to be understood that myinvention is not to be limited to the particular details shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely different means may be employed in the broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cover stop rod construction for fertilizer distributors and the like of the type having a hopper and a cover hinged to one wall of the hopper, said stop rod construction comprisinga pair of rods extending alongside one another with their inner end portions disposed in overlapping relation, means pivotally connecting the outer ends of said rods m the" cover and the" 'op-pos'ite wall of the hopper, and means separatefiiimboth of said rods and having spaced apart rod-receiving i0 apertured portions slidably interconnecting thoverlapping portions of the rods to accommodate*- opening and closing of the cover, said rod-receiving apertured portions engaging'fsai'di'od*poi -f tions at points longitudinallyspaced apart so" tlfat the overlapping portions of the rods are mutually self-supporting, whereby th rdd's do notdrop down into material in the hopper, when the cover is closed.

2. A cover stop rod construction for fertilizer '20 distributors and thalike of the 'type having'a' v hopper and a cover hinged" to oni'a wall 0fthe-hob:

p'r, said stop rod construction-comprising a pair'- of rods extendin'g'alongside oneanother with their' inner end p'o'rtio'ns disposd ifl'overlapp fg'rela tion', means pivotally' conncting'th ou i ends of' said rods to theceve'r 'anu-the oii'p fisifi' wailof 5 the hopper; and a menibrsep'arate from both of said rods and having spacd 'n'ieans connecting adjacent portions 'of said rods and engagi'rigbotlr rods at longitudinally"spaced oints on each; whereby the'inner 'end portions of said rodsare" mutually seIf SupportingYsaid member being slid able relative to both rods t6 a'ecominouatopen insane closing of the covrfi s. Aj cover 'stop rod cbn'struction foi' "'frtiliiei distributors and tfie 'like Ofthis ty e 3 h'ai'ifig a hopper and a covrhinged to 'on'e-wa11 ofthe hop' p'er', said stop 'rod-constructioncomprising aj'p'air of rods extending alongside" on'e anoth"er "with their inner end portions disposed' in ove'rlappirig relation-Q means pivotally "conneeting tna outer eri'd s of said roasts the c'ver 'and the opiririfsite w'all' of 'the hopper-, a --u-mapee2memnensiiaabiy I carriedby one rod" adjabelit' its iffiiei 'eifd aiiid 45' having spaced ap'a'rt sections apertiired t slidf' ably receive theinner endo'fth'e' other'ro seotions beingspaced apart is of said rods to be iselfsii tihg -wiir y th" 59 rods-do" not drop down into" materiai inthe" ep per when the cover is closed -aiid-a stop o'n the" inner endof said oth er' ro'd andengageabl with said U-shaped liiefnbef fbi liifiiting the relative ably"rec eive-*theoverlapping orno outward movement of said rods, thereby serving to hold said cover in its wide-open position.

4. A cover stop rod construction for fertilizer distributors and the like of the type having a hopper and a cover hinged to one wall of the hopper, said stop rod construction comprising a pair of substantially identical rods extending alongside ohe anoth er with their 'inn'er end portions disposed in'oveflapping relation"; manapivotally connecting the outer ends of said rods to the cover and the opposite wall of the hopper, a U- shaped' member having sections apertured to 'slidably receive the overlapping portions of said r6ds;'said"sectioris'being spaced apart along said "rod portionswherby the latter are mutually selfsi'i'ppbrtin'g in 'eith'ei" the open or closed position of the covn'an'd the'inner end of each of said rods being flattened and extended diametrically of the rodtoform stops to prevent said U-shaped member from becoming detached from either of said rods; said flattened" 'pr'ir'ti'ons' resp'ecti'v'ely eiigii gin'g saidsections' of s'aid U-"sha'p'ed rneriiber 'soas and "a cover hinged to one wallof thehop'perithe irnprove neh't comprising a eover' stp'including a pairof elongated members extending alongside I one another 'with their inner' end portions dis' posed in ovnappmgi relation, means pivotally connecting'the outer 'ends' of said members to the cover and J theopDo'sit-wall of the'h'opper a -U shaped member liaving stioi-is apertures said elongated meifibers;'--- said setionsrabeing spaced apartaiongthe ov'ilaiip'ing ortions 01' said" elongated members whereby the: latter are mutuany slf-supporti eitherthe" open or inner "end i of each of said Elongated 'mein bersto prevent said U shaped member' rrombecoming detached from either of said elongated members 

